Shroud for human bodies



(No Model.)

J. 1). MARSTON & G. GLAPP'.

SHROUD FOR HUMAN BODIES.

No; 333,142. Patented Dec. 29, 1885.

ATENT men.

JAMES D. MARSTON, OF ENGLEWOOD,

AND GEORGE CLAPP, OF OAK PARK,

ILLINOIS.

SHROUD FOR HUMAN BODIES.

SEECEFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,142, dated December 29, 1885.

Application filed July 16, 1885. Serial No. 171,807. (No m del.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that We,-JAMES D. ll/IARSTON, of Englewood, Illinois, and GEORGE GLAPP, of Oak Park, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shrouds for Human Oorpses,of which we do declare the following to be a full, clear; and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

In Letters Patent of the United States granted to us on the 4th day of August, 1885, there was described and claimed a shroud specially designed for receiving human bodies, particularly such as have died from contagious dis- 1 5 eases and were to be transported by railroads, steamboat-lines, or any other manner where the contagion was likely to be spread by the germs of disease emanating from the bodies. The shroud set out in such patent consisted of an air-tight bag having an opening in its side, near one end, adapted to be hermetically sealed,

and through which the face of the body inclosed might be seen.

Our present invention has for its object to improve the construction of shroud set forth in said patent; and it consists, primarily,in forming an air-tight shroud orbag with an opening adapted to be hermetically closed, and having an inspection glass or panel through which 0 the face of the body may be seen.

Our invention also consists in providing such shroud with a suitable support, placed within the body of the bag, adapted to hold the inspection glass or panel above the face of the 5 body inclosed within the shroud.

Our invention further consists in providing a flexible air-tight shroud adapted to receive a human corpse,with asupport placed within the body of the bag, adapted to sustain the shroud in such manner that it will not contact with the face of the corpse, and which support can be removed from the shroud,to permit the same to be packed into a very small compass.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a 5 perspective View of a shroud for human bodies, made in accordance with our present invention. Fig. 2 is a view in transverse section on linew a." of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the support for the inspection glass or panel.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a somewhat modified form of shroud.

A designates the main portion or body of the shroud, which is formed, preferably,of rubber or rubber cloth in substantially tubular shape. At one side ofthe shroud,near its end,is formed the opening for the admission ofthe body, such opening consisting of the extended portion a, the inner sides of which will be preferably coated with rubber or other suitable cement, so that as the edges of the opening are compressed together and rolled in position between the lacing-strips B (seen in Fig. 2) the shroud will be hermetically closed, so that no odors can escape therefrom. The cords or laces I) serve to securely retain the mouth of theshroud in closed position, as seen in Fig. 1. Upon the upper side of the shroud a suitable side opening is formed, into which is inserted the inspection glass or panel 0, through which the face of the body may be seen. This panel is preferably ofconcavo-convex shape, and its edges 0 are inserted between thefolds or thicknesses of the shroud. as seen in Fig. 2, and are there securely held by suitable cement, so that the joint between the inspection-glass and the shroud will be hermetically sealed.

In order to retain theglass or panel 0 above the face of the body when in the shroud, a suitable support, D, is provided, which may be of the shape shown in the detail view, Fig. 3 of the drawings. This support consists of the Wire frame having the vertical portions d d, the top bars, (P, the bottom bars, at, and the curved portion dflwhich fits over the neck of the corpse. This support is placed within 8 the shroud, so as to occupy the position shown in Fig. 1, and when in this position the top of the shroud will rest upon the top bars, d and the glasspanel will be sustained so that itcannot come in contact with the face of the corpse. 0

It is preferred to form the support D so that it can be removed from the shroud, as by such construction the shroud can be packed into smaller compass for shipment. We do not wish, however, that our invention should be 5 understood as restricted to the precise form of support shown, as various other forms may be adopted for the purpose of sustaining the glass rrl panel. So, also, a removable support for holding the shroud distended at its upper portion, and thus preventing its coming in contact with the face of the corpse, will be of service in any case where a flexible bag is employed for inclosing the body, whether there be an inspection-panel or not.

In the modified form of shroud shown in Fig. 4 the opening for the admission of the body is formed at the end of the shroud,instead of at the side; but in other respects the construction is the same as that above set out.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. An air-tight shroud or bag to receive a human body, said shroud having an opening adapted to be hermetically closed, and having an inspection glass or panel hermetically fitted into the shroud, and through which theface of the body may be seen, substantially as described.

2. An air-tight shroud or bag to receive a human body, said shroud being provided with an opening adapted to be hermetically closed, and with an inspection glass or panel, and having a suitable support placed within the body of the bag and beneath that part of the bag above the face of the corpse, to hold the glass out of contact with the face, substantially as described.

3. An air-tight shroud or bag to receive a human body, said bag being provided with an opening adapted to be hermetically closed, and with a supporting-frame placed within the body of the bag and beneath that part of the bag above the face of the corpse, and adapted to hold the'shroud out of contact with the face of the corpse inclosed therein, and to be removed from the bag, to permit the same to be packed into small compass, substantially as described.

JAMES D. MARSTON. GEORGE CLAPP.

Witnesses:

GEO. P. FISHER, J r., JAMES H. PEIROE. 

